Information access software provider ClassLink recently announced a partnership with HP focusing on the utilization of both thin-client and virtualization solutions for education. ClassLink provides unlimited—anytime, anywhere—access to instructional software and files for students and teachers.

“Our interests are aligned,” said ClassLink CEO Berj Akian, in a prepared statement. “ClassLink provides a unique, award winning technology solution for delivering educational software 24/7 using application servers and virtualization. HP, with its continuing dedication to thin clients, blade servers, virtualization, UMPC’s, etc., makes this partnership a great fit for the education market. Together we can help students and teachers access their instructional software on a platform that’s affordable, reliable and available 24/7.”

According to our friends at T.H.E. Journal, the benefits of these technologies include cost-effective computing, increased reliability, and application stability. ClassLink and HP will showcase their “vision for the future of instructional technology” in San Antonio, TX, next week at the 29th annual National Educational Computing Conference.

Yesterday, iPhone Atlas posted an interesting article about the possibility of discounted corporate and business voice and data rate plans for the iPhone 3G. And, of course, any discussion of group plans for the iPhone is particularly appealing to those of us seeking to utilize the device on our campuses.

As you may know, AT&T generally offers special employee discounts for corporate rate plans, including reduced device pricing, reduced plan pricing, and free trials. Some business plans are subject to specific calling plans, calling features, phones or accessories. Companies have the option of sharing these discounts with their employees through a sponsorship program. Employees are occasionally able to get substantial discounts through these programs; discounts of between 15% and 25% are available on devices, services, etc. Some devices may even be free with a minimum two year contract and other incentives.

However—as iPhone Atlas suggests—whether or not such discounts apply to the iPhone is still unclear. According to AT&T spokesman, Mark A. Siegel, who spoke with iPhone Atlas earlier this week, business discounts are handled on a case-by-case basis per the agreement between AT&T and your business. Currently, there is no definitive answer as to whether or not the iPhone will be eligible for this program. Siegel indicated that as the July 11th launch date draws near, both this issue and other matters related to the AT&T plan pricing will likely become more clear.

Of course, the first version of the iPhone was not eligible because of the agreement with Apple regarding revenue sharing, etc. However, iPhone Atlas suggests that now that the iPhone is being sold in a subsidized fashion like other phones, the doors may be more open.

Yesterday, Dian Schaffhauser of Campus Technology posted an interesting article discussing the recent findings of a new study conducted by ABI Research. According to the research the firm, next-gen WiFi is expected to be in 99% of North American campuses by 2013. Currently the wireless standard 802.11 is found in less than 3 percent of North American universities. Stan Schatt, vice president and research director of ABI states: “ABI Research believes that wi-fi access point and controller equipment revenue in the global higher education market will skyrocket from $137 million in 2007 to $837 million in 2013.”

Of course, motivations for deploying WiFi in schools and colleges vary widely. As Schaffhauser points out, greater security is in demand, especially video surveillance. K-12 schools are embracing an “anytime-anywhere learning” philosophy, and they are placing emphasis on providing networked computers to as many students as possible. Universities, clearly the leading early adopters, are finding that WiFi connectivity is a recruitment requirement for many students.

For more information, be sure to check out Schaffhauser’s full article in Campus Technology.

In a very interesting Chronicle blog post yesterday, Mark McVay—design director of the architecture firm SmithGroup—explores the way in which culture affects the public space of a campus. He discusses the challenges of designing university spaces that not only stand the test of time and remain permanent parts of a campus fabric, but that are also adaptable to changing technologies, curricula, pedagogy, and enrollment.

McVay asserts that the current “Millennial” generation is introducing new ways of interacting in and using space and is challenging decades-old planning standards. “The Millennials’ seamless embrace of technology is driving some of the biggest changes. Digital teaching tools are now commonplace. Distance learning now links students and faculty members around the globe. But maybe the most serious consequence of the digital revolution is that it is redefining the social aspect of learning. Millennials take digital technologies and improvements for granted. Chatting, texting, and network-gaming environments create global interaction.”

The impact of these changes on learning spaces is subtle, but significant. Whereas previous generations generally use electronics in solitude, Millennials see them as opportunities for dynamic social interaction. Clusters of students huddle around a computer sharing ideas—approaching full immersion. McVay suggests that the key is simultaneity of input. He writes, “Designing for this generation means providing wireless Internet access and readily accessible power. It means keeping in mind wire management and ergonomics. And it means encouraging changes in behavior that maximize interaction at both the local and universal scales.”

Ultimately, as McVay asserts, these developments give us opportunities to increase the experiential component of learning—and we’ve only begun to scratch the surface.

Be sure to visit the Chronicle of Higher Education for the full article.

Last week Gartner released a report delineating 10 key predictions of events and developments that will affect IT and business (and, consequently, Higher Education) in 2008 and beyond. Introducing these predictions, Daryl Plummer—managing vice president and Gartner Fellow—writes, “the trends and topics [addressed] this year indicate a strong focus on individuals, the environment, and alternative ways of buying and selling IT services and technologies.”

These predictions, selected from more than 100 predictions that Gartner presents and reviews every year, focus on general technology areas rather than on specific industries or roles. Here are some of this year’s most interesting predictions (These are especially enjoyable if you read them with Conan O’Brian’s “In the Year 2000” skit in mind):

By 2011, Apple will double its U.S. and Western Europe unit market share in computers. Apple is challenging its competitors with software integration that provides ease of use and flexibility; continuous and more frequent innovation in hardware and software; and an ecosystem that focuses on interoperability across multiple devices.

By 2012, 50 per cent of traveling workers will leave their notebooks at home in favour of other devices. New classes of Internet-centric pocketable devices at the sub-$400 level and server and Web-based applications that can be accessed from anywhere will be ubiquitous.

By 2012, 80 per cent of all commercial software will include elements of open-source technology. Many open-source technologies are mature, stable and well supported and provide significant opportunities for vendors and users to lower their total cost of ownership and increase returns on investment.

By 2011, early technology adopters will forgo capital expenditures and instead purchase 40 per cent of their IT infrastructure as a service.

By 2011, suppliers to large global enterprises will need to prove their green credentials via an audited process to retain preferred supplier status.

By 2010, end-user preferences will decide as much as half of all software, hardware and services acquisitions made by IT.

Click here for an extensive report of Gartner’s predictions.

Our friends at iPhone Atlas recently posted an interesting article about the iPhone’s 802.1x hole, which prevents the device from connecting to wireless networks offered by a number of universities and corporations.

802.1x is utilized to secure wireless networks and restrict access, and because the iPhone does not have the capability to act as an 802.1x supplicant, it cannot join networks that make use of the protocol. Consequently, college students are often unable to make use of their schools’ WiFi networks.

iPhone Atlas reports that an online petition for Apple to implement support for the standard currently has over 1090 signatures, most coming from universities in the United States and UK. Comments from the petition include:
• “Many college students need this!”
• “Please update the ipod touch to be 802.1x compatible, it really inconvenience many people who were looking forward to using the WiFi on campuses”
• “For me the iPhone/iPod Touch are useless without it.”
• “This feature should have been standard from the word go”
• “This seemingly small feature is a huge factor in usability that could easily be solved via a software update.”

Apple has supported 802.1x in the desktop versions of Mac OS X since Mac OS X 10.3.x (Panther).

In a recent eWeek.com article, Stan Gibson suggests that although the corporate world is generally keeping the iPhone at arm’s length, “with a few tweaks—some major—the iPhone could be a very serious contender for corporate personal device of choice.” This article provides a handy follow-up to our post yesterday concerning the growing pressure placed on corporate and university IT departments by the unslaught of converged mobile devices. As in yesterday’s post, many of Gibson’s observations of and predictions for the corporate world concerning the widespread implementation of the iPhone are just as applicable in Higher Education.

Citing Forrester Research analyst Ben Gray, Gibson suggests that corporations are keeping the iPhone at bay for a number of reasons. Among them:

• The iPhone doesn’t natively support push e-mail or over-the-air calendar synchronization.
• There is a dearth of third-party applications for the iPhone.
• The iPhone does not support file or disk encryption.
• IT administrators cannot set password policies.
• Should it be lost or stolen, the iPhone cannot be remotely locked or wiped.
• The iPhone’s battery is not removable. A dead battery calls for a new—and expensive—iPhone.
• The touch-screen user interface means slower typing than with a tactile keypad.

Of course, these concerns are just as relevant to those of us interested in employing the device to enhance social and academic exchange in the academy. As discussed in yesterday’s post, the development of corporate applications for the iPhone will be a critical factor in determining the device’s success or failure in the enterprise. Fortunately, Apple is preparing for an SDK (software development kit) release in February.

Gibson goes on to highlight other iPhone developments that could change the corporate equation. “AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson has said publicly that an iPhone with features that can be exploited by third-generation wireless networks will roll out this year. 3G capabilities include higher speeds, advanced multimedia support and global roaming.”And despite extensively cataloguing its deficiencies, Forrester’s Gray asserts, “It’s only a matter of time before the iPhone filters down the corporate pyramid, and IT should have a strategy to handle these requests.” Certainly the same is true for Higher Ed.

Stan Gibson of eWeek.com recently wrote an interesting article about the growing pressure placed on corporate IT by the proliferation of personal devices. Gibson suggests that “corporate IT hasn’t seen anything similar to this since the early days of the PC, when renegade machines began showing up on desktops like mushrooms after a heavy rain.” It is the challenge of securing and integrating these multifunctional devices that places IT at the center of the deluge. Of course, the challenges presented by the converged mobile phenomenon are not confined to the corporate sector; obviously, Higher Ed. administration must face similar issues.

Perhaps the most compelling aspect of Gibson’s report for Higher Ed. is his extended discussion of the application development for these devices. In both the corporate world and the academy, multiple platforms create an unattractive development environment, keeping many worthy applications from being released. Gibson suggests that “with a single development platform, a company [university] could create a single corporate application for a range of devices.”

He asserts that plenty could change on the application development front if Google’s Android takes hold as an industry-standard platform. Likewise, the expected emergence of an Apple SDK for the iPhone in February also poses some interesting possibilities. Such an SDK could spur interest in the iPhone as a rival application platform.

Ideally, with a single development platform, an IT manager will be able to remotely configure a multifunctional device, load software on it, set policies governing passwords, implement encryption and wipe the device clean by remote control should it be lost or stolen.

As Gibson suggests, the challenge for corporate and university IT is finding “the balance among application support, security and manageability that businesses [universities] require, while letting users [students] feel a sense of connection with and ownership of their own devices so that they use them to full advantage.”

It’s hard to believe that just a year ago the iPhone made its debut … and with Macworld 2008 just days away, it’s exciting to imagine what’s next. Over the past few months, iThinkEd has joined educators around the world in discussing what convergence will bring to teaching and learning, so we thought we’d kick off the new year by sharing a few of our hopes and dreams for the future of the iPhone in higher ed….

1. iTunes U Push. Over the past few months, we’ve been none to subtle about calling for iPhone integration with iTunes U. Full Wi-Fi access to subscriptions pushed directly to the device would finally make educational podcasting a killer app. We hope the complete podcast directory will soon be available on the iPhone, but for a growing number of colleges and universities, iTunes U is a strategic priority, and we’re hoping it’s a priority for Apple, too.
2. Universal Playlists. Another quirk with iTunes U is the disappearance of content from a course playlist. The iPhone separates audio from video files, creating some confusion for new users. Universal playlists would unify subscribed content by subject rather than type, and we think that would be awfully handy for classroom use. In a perfect world, the playlist would even import PDF handouts added to iTunes U… Mmmmmm.
3. Next-Generation Clicker. Many textbook companies are currently bundling single-function, infrared “clickers” with their books that allow on-the-spot polling and assessment of students. However, these devices and their accompanying software typically don’t allow assessments to be randomized or adapted to particular groups, and their management is often difficult in large-section classes. The benefits of instant assessment for higher education are just too compelling to ignore, though, and having a device that allows randomization and greater flexibility would be a significant improvement for classroom instruction. (more…)

You may have noticed that things have been a bit sparse around here lately…

Well, we can explain that. Most of us here at iThinkEd work at universities, and it’s been pretty hectic — followed by a few happy weeks off.

So in the meantime, while we recharge our batteries (and those of our iPhones), we’d like to wish all of you a happy holiday season. We’ll look forward to seeing you in the new year – with lots of nifty stories (our room, flight, and tickets are already booked for MacWorld!) and some nifty new features we’ll be rolling out in the coming months.

In the meantime, we’re hoping for peace — and a better life for those who are suffering.

Happy holidays from all of us at iThinkEd.